"Windows could not start because...."

[wildbill411]

I was given a Dell Inspiron 8500 laptop that was working fine and on a reboot I got this message:

Invalid boot.ini file

booting from C:\windows

then I immediately I get this error:

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:

<Windows root>\system32\hal.dll.

Please reinstall the above file

I do not have the windows XP Home disc or any Dell discs.

Is there away to fix this with the "Ultimate Boot CD" or some other way to run a chkdisc?

tia

[infiniti25]

If you can grab yourself a windows xp cd, you could follow the posts on this link

http://www.ozzu.com/mswindows-forum/window...dll-t53834.html

but you need a xp cd for gaining access to the recovery console.

You could try a bartPE disc and run the instructions from that link.

[wildbill411]

If you can grab yourself a windows xp cd, you could follow the posts on this link

http://www.ozzu.com/mswindows-forum/window...dll-t53834.html

but you need a xp cd for gaining access to the recovery console.

You could try a bartPE disc and run the instructions from that link.

would my oem xp pro disc work on this xp home laptop?

thanks

[infiniti25]

that would be fine to get to the recovery console, as long as its an install disc and not a recovery disc.

[jaclaz]

Also, you can make a Recovery Console CD out of the XP install floppies:

http://tips.vlaurie.com/2006/05/23/recover...out-an-xp-disk/

This way you can make it out of the same "edition" (home or Pro):

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?...b;en-us;Q310994

Some details/additions here:

http://www.boot-land.net/forums/?showtopic=2254

http://www.boot-land.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=5316

jaclaz